Francis Ford Coppola famously self-financed the production of his ambitious sci-fi epic. megalopolis But how much money did you spend on the movie? Coppola has been developing megalopolis From the 1970s, so this movie is half a century in the making. Coppola didn’t just have to wait for visual effects technology to catch up to his lofty vision; A string of box office bombs forced the director to put his passion project on hold to focus on more commercial movies The Godfather Part III And Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
megalopolis Using the context of the fall of Rome to envision a bleak future for the United States as an optimistic architect envisions a utopian new world clashing with a corrupt politician who would rather lead a totalitarian dystopia. Led by Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito megalopolis‘ wide ensemble cast in what promises to be the greatest experimental arthouse film ever made. Since no studio in their right mind would finance such an expensive creative risk, Coppola had to fund the film’s budget out of his own pocket. So, how much did he spend?
Francis Ford spent $120 million to build the Coppola megalopolis
Coppola sold part of his winery business to self-finance production
Coppola self-financed its production megalopolis 120 million dollars. D Apocalypse is now The director has been one of California’s top wine producers since 2010. His self-titled brand is one of the top-selling producers of premium wine in America, so the business is worth a pretty penny – and it sold for a pretty penny. In 2021, Coppola sold off part of his winery business in a massive deal valued at nearly $500 million (via independent) to give him $120 million in disposable income to spend on filming megalopolis.
By selling his own business for $500 million, Coppola was able to spend $120 million megalopolis Without the risk of bankruptcy. He made sure he could lose what he spent. According to the director, the size of the deal means he will be “penaltyeven if megalopolis does not make money. Selling his wineries for half a billion dollars means that Coppola can comfortably deliver megalopolis With the budget needed to bring his dream to life and not rely on subsequent profits to save him from going broke.
Francis Ford Coppola spent another $15M-$20M on marketing
Part of Coppola’s deal with Lionsgate requires her to cover her own marketing expenses
Coppola megalopolis He didn’t stop spending with the $120 million spent on production; He also had to bear the cost of marketing. Coppola initially hoped to secure a distribution deal that would require the distributor to cover marketing costs, but nearly every distributor in Hollywood balked at the possibility. When he struggled to find a distributor to agree to these terms, Coppola compromised his demands. This eventually led him to a distribution deal at Lionsgate, but that deal came with some contingencies.
Lionsgate has agreed to a distribution deal
megalopolis
But the contract called for Coppola to pay for a robust marketing campaign of between $15 and $20 million.
Lionsgate has agreed to a distribution deal megalopolisBut the deal called for Coppola to pay for a robust marketing campaign worth $15 to $20 million (via The Hollywood Reporter) Coppola’s deal with Lionsgate requires the studio to release the movie in more than 1,500 theaters. Whether enough moviegoers around the world will show the movie in those 1,500 theaters for a profit is another story — but Coppola will be fine either way.
What Francis Ford Coppola spent $135M+ on Megalopolis means for the box office
Perhaps this means the movie doesn’t need to recoup its budget to be considered a success
Coppola’s massive investment of $135 million (or so) doesn’t mean that much megalopolisBox Office Generally, a movie has so much money behind it that it needs to earn 2.5 times its gross ($337.5 million) to be considered a success. But studio backing megalopolis That’s not on the hook for $135 million; Lionsgate probably got the rights for much cheaper. Only Coppola is liable for that $135 million, and he’s not looking for a return on his investment. If Lionsgate refunds the fee, it should be received megalopolis In theaters, it will be in black.
When a major studio pumps $120 million into a movie, they’re hoping to make a profit, because they’re not in it for the sake of the industry; They are in it to make money. But Coppola is the rare film investor who is in it for the sake of the industry. I have financed megalopolis With $120 million he can lose. Coppola is happy as long as the movie is there and getting in front of audiences.
Sources: The Independent, Hollywood Reporter